How to Plan a Home Office that Works

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

What is the Role of Your Home Office: Work or Home Life? 4

How to Plan a Personal Office vs a Family Friendly Office 5

Basic Functions of a Home Office 7

Where Can You Put a Home Office? 8

How Much Storage Do You Need in Your Office? 10

Tips for Managing Technology in Your Home Office 11

Tips for Organizing Paperwork in Your Home Office 13

How to Create a Meeting Area for Clients in Your Home Office 14

Style Ideas for Home Offices 16

Should You Build a Custom Office? 17

Tips for Creating an Office on a Budget 19

Tips for Defining Your Workspace in a Shared Room 20

How Color Affects Your Work Environment 22

Tips for Selecting Lighting in Your Home Office 24

Ergonomics - How to Make Your Home Office Comfortable 25

Great Ideas for Creating a Contemporary Home Office 28

Great Ideas for Creating a Traditional Style Home Office 29

Great Ideas for Creating an Eclectic Home Office 31

How to Create Attractive Display Areas in Your Office 32

Tips for Sharing Living Space with a Home Office 34

Tips for Sharing Den Space 36

with a Home Office 36

Tips for Sharing Kitchen Space with a Home Office 37

What Work Environment Do You Need to Create in Your Home Office? 38

Maximizing Space: How to Create a Closet Home Office 41

Maximizing Space: How to Turn a Niche into a Home Office 42

What is the Role of Your Home What is the Role of Your Home Office: Work or Home

When deciding on a home office, you might want to consider exactly what you will use it for You will need to determine in which

section of your house you will establish your office and what items you will place in the room Will your family use your office? You and your family may all have digital cameras that require using your

computer Some of your family may want to spend time playing computer games on your computer while others may want to watch

Perhaps you have an absorbing hobby that requires you to use a computer If you have children, they will

be probably need to use your computer in the evenings to do their homework Your family-friendly office will need enough space for your family You should have enough room for two to sit at the computer, because kids like to share things like playing games

If that's the case, then you need to establish a central location in the house for your office so the whole family has access to it Establishing a section of the lounge or sitting room might be a good place, unless you have another spare room If the children are still young, you may want to keep your home office somewhere safe from curious kids, so using a central room away the from main playroom is an excellent choice Besides a computer, you'll probably need a scanner and printer, some shelving or storage space for office supplies and equipment

On the other hand, if you work a job, you might on occasion bring home work that requires you to spend long hours either at the computer or at a desk or table Or maybe you will use a home office solely for running a home business; if

so, then a more private place in your home would be best

If you have a young family, they'll probably want your attention while you are trying to work If this is the case, you really need a place where you can work undisturbed You may also need a private office to interview prospective clients

in person or on the phone

How to Plan

How to Plan a Personal Office vs a a Personal Office vs a

Family Friendly Office Family Friendly Office

Your office will need plenty of space if you are planning a family-friendly office

If you plan to work in the office as well as let the family in there to play or share your time, then you may want to have a second

computer for them to use while you are working on yours They will be delighted with their own "space"

and will often play there contentedly and quietly while you are busy

Depending on how well you focus on your work, you may also want to install a television to entertain the kids while you get some work done Make sure your office has plenty of comfortable seats, a sofa or beanbags so your kids will be less likely to sit on your lap all the time If your children are older, they will certainly need their own computer and work desk It's better to have their

computer in the general office so you can keep an eye on what they are doing while you are working

You will need to have enough drawers or shelving for everyone to store their stuff; if each person "owns" a shelf, then their stuff won't get mixed up with yours Open shelving can look untidy, so perhaps a cupboard with shelves in it will be good for storage Otherwise you could use color-coded baskets or tubs on the shelves

If you are using a spare bedroom for your family-friendly office, you could use the built-in wardrobe closet for storage space or you may prefer to use it to store your computer; this way you can shut the doors without having to turn off you computer if you need to leave the room with young kids still in there Your work will be protected from curious little fingers

If your children are older, you may simply use a corner of your lounge or rumpus room to store your office But if your work office is solely for work and not for family, then you will certainly need to keep it in a room separate from the family room

Apart from a computer, scanner and printer, your work office may need a filing cabinet with a lockable drawer, along with a phone line or two and a fax machine Depending on the work you plan to do in this office, you may need a separate table and chair and a sofa chair for those times you need a break from the computer If you plan on spending long hours at the computer, you will need a comfortable work chair, too Don't forget the heating and cooling systems to keep you comfortable while you work

Basic Functions of a Home Office Basic Functions of a Home Office

No matter whether you set-up a family-friendly or a private-and-personal home office, you will need to use your office to perform some basic functions An office

is where you will perform most of your everyday tasks of your business, so you must set it up the right way

You will certainly need a telephone (or two), even if you use a cell phone much of the time It is still necessary to have a landline phone, because you can't send a fax via a cell phone

You will need to write and answer emails in your home office, so you'll need the right facilities to do this a good computer with broadband for speed, if possible What you do in your office depends on the business you have If you need to pack and post items, then you will need table space apart from your computer to do this You may even need to display and/or store products, so you will need the correct storage

If you need to draft plans or make patterns, then you may need to expand your workspace rather than someone like a freelance writer who is at the computer most of the day

A home office is also used for keeping records, and you may keep personal records as well as work records here You'll need a good-sized filing cabinet for this basic function and maybe other shelves or drawer space You may prefer to keep personal records in a separate filing cabinet for privacy

You may have to interview or meet with people associated with your business, so your office will function as a meeting place It's a good idea to have outside access to your office, and then you won't have to bring clients or customers through the rest of the house to get to the office They won't be all that impressed with the baby screaming and kids' toys all over the floor

You will need enough comfortable seating to deal with your clients, as your home office may function as an interview room Are you likely to have one client

waiting while you deal with another? Then you may need a small waiting room close by - you could even have tea or coffee making facilities in it

W Where Can You Put a Home Office? here Can You Put a Home Office? here Can You Put a Home Office?

You have many places to set up a home office The location will depend on your own circumstances It may also depend on whether you need a private and

personal office or one more orientated towards family use What you intend to

do in your office will also have some bearing on its position If you only need space for a computer desk, then it will

be easier to find a suitable spot than if you also need other tables

You could install a family office in the family room or whatever you consider

as the main room of your house This way you can do what you need to do

without isolating yourself from the rest of the family You may need to rearrange the furniture so you can fit your computer desk and assorted paraphernalia along one wall, or part of a wall

If your family room is large enough and one wall is an external wall, you may consider dividing the room with a properly built wall, then you could have outside access if necessary If you don't need outside access, then you could arrange the furniture to create a division

Under the stairs is another space that is often under-utilized With proper lighting,

it could become your new office space Shelving could be installed under the lowest part so you don't bump your head on it

You may have a spare bedroom you could utilize or even a small storeroom, an awkward corner somewhere, or you could block off the end of a hall To make more room in a smaller bedroom that holds two single beds, you could have bunk beds instead If you don't need two beds in it, then a futon or folding sofa bed might be an alternative This would free up enough space to hold a computer desk

Some creative people use the space of a built-in wardrobe room to fit their home office into The advantage is you can close it off when you are not using it and it

is not intrusive Nor is it a tempting to young kids The room will look much tidier, too

Other possibilities include the attic or the basement Very often the space in these two rooms is not utilized at all, but kept for storage If you decide on the attic, you may need to get a builder's advice about strengthening the floor and see about lighting and heating, while the basement may need professional treatment for dampness

While you can store many files and folders on your computer, you will usually need to keep hard copy files in a certain order; if this is the case you need the correct storage facilities

You'll also need storage for those items you will use every day A hutch is often provided on computer desks and this may be adequate, but if it is not, there are many other storage options You could have

a bookcase in the corner or along the wall nearby Or you may prefer to use stackable units so you can add to them as your storage needs increase

Remember that open shelving can look untidy and will eventually gather dust, so you may prefer to use shelves in a cupboard

of some kind

For most businesses, you must keep business records for a certain number of years and

sometimes for as long as the business is operating Your storage needs will increase over the years, so prepare yourself If you don't think you can create any more storage space, then look up! If you don't have much floor space, a three-drawer filing cabinet could have another one set on top of it rather than along side

There is plenty of room up high You may need a footstool or steady ladder to reach it While this may seem annoying, you can always keep the oldest files up there those that you don't need to access very often

Make sure that the storage you decide to install is strong enough for the weight it will carry Paper is actually heavy when it is stacked together Sometime

bookcases are simply not strong enough to do the job Shelves sag and end up collapsing, so save yourself a lot of grief by using strong shelving

Freestanding plastic and metal shelving is good because you can move it to another spot easily, but built-in shelving can be customized to use those spaces that are unique to your specific location

Tips for Managing Technology

Home Office Home Office

Modern technology has made using a home office much more professional, easier and faster You can access many files with the

click of a mouse and do a host of useful tasks Make sure you can manage all the technology in your home office don't let it manage you Unless you are

extremely computer literate, use the simplest software as long as it still fits your needs

Technology increases every day You can get software that will automatically back up all your files a wonderful thing to have if you accidentally hit the wrong key or suffer a power failure before you've had time to save You can also get Shadow Copy software that will restore accidentally deleted files You can have an automatic robot installed that will remember all those passwords you have and automatically log you in

When you are really busy operating your business, you usually don't have time to learn new technology But if that technology is going to save you a great deal of time and effort in the future of your business, it is worth spending time to learn how to use it properly

You may need to take a training course online or offline, or have someone come

to your office and show you how to do it Do whatever you need to learn, even if you need to do it in small time-lots that don't take away from your business time Six months down the track you'll be glad you did

Always be sure you actually need that new software before you buy it this applies even to the free ones It's no use getting bogged down with stuff that you rarely use or have no real need for, even if it does have cool features If you do get software, get the latest and best version that you can afford, otherwise you will have to waste time to update the software

Find out what sort of learner you are to facilitate the process of learning new software If you are a visual learner, you will remember things best by seeing them written down before doing them This allows you to visualize what will

happen as you do each step A kinesthetic learner needs to have hands on experience to learn Others can learn simply by being told what to do

Tips for Organizing Paperwork in Your

Home Office Home Office

Do you have piles of paperwork littering every surface in your home office? Are you afraid to open a window or switch on the fan in case your papers will blow everywhere into a big mess Here are some fantastic tips to organize your paperwork and how you can become the most efficient person ever

Firstly, decide what you really need to keep and what you don't Do you see a reason to file things that you don't need? (Remember that you do need to keep financial records for tax purposes) A filing system is necessary to keep all that paper in order What filing system you decide to buy or setup will depend on your budget and your space

A proper filing cabinet is an excellent way to keep records because you can file your paperwork in a way that is easy to access Those hanging cardboard folders with alphabetical stickers on the tabs will

quickly show you where everything is All you need to do is drop the sheet of paper into the correct folder Always set aside 15

minutes of your day to file paperwork correctly This will save you lots of time hunting for a file that has somehow disappeared even though you are sure it

was right there yesterday

If you cannot have a filing cabinet, then the next best thing is to have cardboard folders or even plastic or cardboard boxes with lids if possible on shelves You can still use an alphabetical filing system by sticking labels on the edges of your shelves, or on the sides of the boxes If you store your folders in a drawer, write the file name on the bottom of the folder so that you can see it when you open the drawer Of course, you could store them top first- - but then the writing will be upside down

You can purchase cardboard folders in packs of ten You can make them more useful by turning up the bottom by about 5 cm and stapling it to form a pocket Then your papers will not fall out when you pick it up

You can also use large manila envelopes to file your paperwork You can stick the gummed overlap down over itself so that it doesn't catch on the paperwork, cut it off and cut a u-shaped section out of the front so you can see what files are in there This aids in extracting the file too you don't have to take everything out

to find what you want

Once you have everything in its proper place, you will be able to work more efficiently and quickly And it will certainly look more professional

How to

How to Create a Meeting Area for Create a Meeting Area for

Clients in Your Home Office Clients in Your Home Office

With many home businesses it is necessary to meet with clients sometimes You simply cannot expect clients or prospects to feel comfortable in your lounge room, surrounded by toys and kids And

the kitchen with its sink full of dishes has limited possibilities Even if you don't have children, you need a space for your clients that suits them This will help your clients feel that you are a professional at what you do and enable you to discuss business matters in a quiet and relaxed atmosphere, free of interruptions

The ideal solution is have an accessible office from outside This will separate your personal life from your business a necessity when running a business from home If this area can be at the front of the house, so much the better You'll be able to have a visible sign directing your clients to the correct place You can restrict family access to a side or back entrance Your waiting room if you need one can be your front porch or even the foyer of the home

To create a suitable meeting area in your office, you need to visualize what you will use each area for You haves your workspace which is usually occupied by

a computer and chair and you have storage space that is close to the workspace You can use the rest of the space for the meeting area

You should design your meeting area with comfort in mind Whether you have a sofa and easy chairs or whether you have a table and straight-backed chairs may depend on your space and your business Try using straight-backed chairs Try them out yourself first Some are more comfortable than others You may need a table to demonstrate something on Or you may need to use a laptop or an

overhead projector

Make sure your client space is appropriate for the kind of business you have If you need to simply talk to clients, then a sofa or easy chairs may be the best option Two easy chairs are better than one sofa, unless you are likely to interview two people at once You may need a small coffee table to provide tea or coffee options, but be sure this does not intrude on your available space

For instance, instead of the usual coffee table in front of the sofa, try a small round one at one end You can put two easy chairs along one wall, but you'll need

to pull the far side of each forward slightly so you are facing your client, rather than both staring at the opposite wall The obvious place for a small table is then between the two

Style Ideas for Home Offices Style Ideas for Home Offices

Since you'll be spending time in your home office, you'll probably want to decorated it in a style that suits your personality Perhaps you may want your office different than the rest of your house Or perhaps you would like to expand the theme of the rest of your house into your office In this case, be careful to get furniture in the same style whether it is contemporary, modern, rustic or country cottage

If you've installed your home office in the corner of another room, you may prefer it to blend in with the décor of that room To make it look completely different will detract from the aesthetic appeal of both Of course, you could

re-decorate the whole room to be more in-line with what you want from your office

Decorating a home office in a professional manner will help your family take the work you do seriously and make you feel more like a professional person You will be inclined to give your work the time and effort it deserves if your office looks professional

Whatever style of décor you decide on, efficiency is the first priority A fancy coffee table in the middle of the room may look fantastic, but if you crack your shin on it every time to try to access your files, then it is not contributing to efficiency You may love the colors in that mat you found at a flea market, but if your clients are likely to trip on the one tatty corner, then don't use it

Once your office is efficient, you can look for ways to make it personal, pleasing and perfect You can play your own music there; you can have a fish tank if you want; or you could display your ancient collection of whatever if you have enough room It's all up to you

But if you have trouble decorating and end up with a messy clutter and a jumbled hodge-podge of miscellaneous items, then it might be time to call in the

office will depend on the location and the size of your budget If you want your office to form part of another room, then it may not be necessary to custom build anything, except perhaps some special shelves Custom built shelving will ensure that you get the most use out of your space

You can easily purchase a freestanding shelving unit, however they do gather dust

in that crevice between the wall and the back of the shelves It is almost impossible to clean and you would need to take everything off the unit before you can move it For this reason alone, custom-built shelving may be the way to go

Once you decide what you need in your office, and where it will all go, then it's time to use your tape measure and see how much space you can allot to each item

of furniture If you cannot purchase the right furniture to fit the space, then consider custom built

A custom built office offers you the style and color that suits you, even though it may not be available in the shops You can have your specific space measured by professionals who will then consult you on your needs and tastes in design, style and color

When you purchase pre-fab, then you cannot be sure of quality or fit You must

go with the nearest size of what you want, and you are stuck with whatever stuff it

is made from If you decide on two different units, you may be unable to get them

in matching colors or timber

While a custom built office may cost more, it will also last longer due to the quality You will be happier to work in an environment that matches your tastes, and your clients will feel your professionalism when they see an office that you designed with such care

Custom designers are experts in their job They can advise you on the most

efficient and cost efficient design for your needs They will probably think of things that you may not, since they've probably had more experience is setting up offices than you have

Custom-built office staff are trained in how to get the best use of your available space, no matter if you have lots of room or only a little

Tips for Creating an Office on a

Budget Budget

Everyone is restrained by a budget of some kind When you begin planning your home office, you won't be the only one restrained by a budget Having a budget

to create your office is great practice for budgeting other areas of your life You can still have a great office even with a shoestring budget

You do not need to buy new furniture for your office You can find plenty of stores that sell used furniture and you can often find furniture with bargain prices What about an old-fashioned desk for your computer instead of one made

especially for the job? You'll get heaps more room and you'll probably be able to fit a set of drawers underneath it

If you haven't bought a computer yet, think about getting a laptop instead of one with a monitor Why? You can save heaps of space by using the laptop on the slide-out keyboard drawer of a computer desk Then you'll have free space on top of the

desk for other activities as well as space on the wall behind for a small corkboard

or even a hutch You can store essential paperwork on that or anything else that you need to reach easily and often

The space that would have held the CPU can store many other things Measure it carefully and see if you can get stackable, slide-out storage for it And thinking of computers and all the other electronics you'll need, keep a watch out for sales and discounts that will save you a bundle Even buying online can save a great deal

Browse thrift stores to access pre-loved furniture and other accessories Garage sales, eBay and other auction sites, both online and offline, are good places to find bargains You can easily find discount office supplies from advertising

Unless you need to finish your office in a hurry, don't try to do it all in one day If you start with the basics and expand gradually, you can still work from the office while you wait to find the extra pieces you need This is a good idea if you've never worked in an office before and are not sure how it should all fit together or what else you need

If you have a choice, choose the store that offers free delivery, otherwise see if you can handle the delivery yourself This could save the costs of store delivery that costs $75 or more

Tips for Defining Your Workspace in a

Shared Room Shared Room

If your home office must share a room with others in the family, you can find other ways to make it a private space or at least define your work area that encourages the rest of the family not to intrude

To start, you can gather all your office equipment into the one area Don't spread yourself around the whole room with your filing cabinet on one wall, your desk along the other, and the bin in a corner near the doorway Instead, keep everything along one wall or in the corner One exception would be

if you have a filing cabinet of records or things you don't need to access every day

You could free up some extra office space by locating this in another room

You may be able to use the back of the sofa as a low wall to define your workspace but don't be surprised if your kids climb it to reach you A bookcase against the back of it may stop this problem and give you needed storage space

Or you may find it enough to mark off your office boundary with a low coffee table or a couple of indoor plants

Storage units are probably the most effective way of defining your workspace, as they will do provide storage If you want to keep an eye on the kids, then you need to keep the storage below your eye level when sitting The height of a three-drawer filing cabinet is about right If you have taller storage, you could have one

on each side of the desk area (but behind you) so you can view most of the room from your chair

Try and keep your workspace out of a walkway If people have to go through your workspace to access other areas of the same room, then it is in the wrong place